hearne



Dec. 29, 1925- 1,567,643

A. O. HEARNE COMBINATION MENU AND ORDER SLIP HOLDER Filed Nov. 18, 1922 -1NVENTOR. Z2/z @f7/650772 Patented Dec. 29', 1925.

ALVA O. `HEARNE, OF WASHINGTON, 4STI-RCEG'I OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINATION MENU AND ORDER-SLI? HOLDER,

Application filed November ,18, 1922.

To all who/ml t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALVA O. HEARNE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Menu and Order-Slip Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an accessory for hotels, restaurants, cafs and the like, more particularly to a combination menu and order pad or slip holder, and has for its object to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a holder with means to enable the convenient removal of an old and the substitution of a new menu card when desired, as well as with means for the convenient atf taching thereto of a pad of order slips when a pad has become exhausted.

A further object of-the invention is to provide a combination menu and order pad or slip holder, not only including means for detachably connecting a menu card and a pad of order slips therewith, but also means for detachably connecting therewith a writing instrument. so that the menu card, order slips and writing instrument will be conveniently accessible'to a guest thus enabling a guest to write an order of food'independent of a waiter, so as to overcome the objection of a waiter hovering around to verbally receive the order.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide a foldable combination menu and order pad or slip holder including means for detachably connecting the menu card to one side thereof and further including means for detachably connecting the pad or order slips and writing instrumentto the other side thereof so that when the holder is operated, a guest can employ his left hand for use in connection with the menu card and has right hand for grasping the writing instrument and using the latter on the order slip without inconvenience to write the order.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a combination menu and order pad or slip holder which is simple in its con-- struction and arrangement, durable, compact. strong, provided with a mirror for use by a guest. efficient and convenient in its use, readily assembled. and comparative- 1y inexpensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of Serial No. 601,873.

parts, as hereinafter more specifically de-, scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conibined menu and order pad or slip holder, in accordance with this invention, the holder being extended,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1, through the clamping element for the menu card.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2,

Figure is a perspective view of the menu clamp extended,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of the mirror.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the holder comprises a body portion formed of a pair of superposed rectangular sections 3, 4 of flexible material, and the section 3 is of greater width and length than the section 4. The section 3 overlaps the edges of the section 4, as at 5, and the said overlapping portion 5 is secured to the section 4 in any suitable manner, by way of example, through a cementitious substance or stitching whereby said sections 3 and 4 are connected together in opposed relation. The body portion is bent upon itself, centrally parts thereof, at the point indicated at- 5 to form 9 a pair of folds 1, 2. When the folds are extended, the section 4 is exposed in the manner as shown in Figure 1.

Positioned against that part of the section 2 which forms the inner side of the fold 1 when the body portion is folded, is a menu card 6, and the section 4, at the outer and inner lower corners thereof, is slitted at an inclination, as indicated at 7 and extended through the slits 7 are the lower corners of the menu card 6 for the purpose of holding the lower portion of the latter against the lower part of the inner face of the fold 1. The upper portion of the menucard 6 is removably connected with the`upper portion of the fold 1, and for such purpose a clamping element is employed which is connected spaced from cach other.

to the section 4 and arranged against the outer face thereof.

The clamping element more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5, comprises a pair of opposed narrow clamping plates 8, 9, extending transversely withfrespect yto thefold 1 and of a length less than the width of the latter. The outer side edge of the plate 8 is formed with two spaced pairs of barrels 10, 10, and with the barrels of each pair spacedfroni each other. The outer side edge of the plate 9 is formed with two spaced pairs of barrels 10a, 10b, and with the barrels of each pair The pair of barrels 10a is arranged between and abuts against the pair of barrels 10. The pair of barrels 10b is arrangedbetween and abuts against the pair fof barrels 10. The barrels 10@L align with the barrels 10, and the barrels lObfalign with the barrels 10. vExtending through the aligning barrels 10 and 10a is a pintle 11, and extending through the aligning barrels 10 and 1()b is a pintle 11. Secured to the fold lis apair of spaced supporting` brackets 12 and each of which is provided with a pair of bendable tongues 12 employed for connecting the bracket to the fold. Each of the brackets 12 isvformed with an opening 12 and intothe openings 12 extend the outer ends of the pintles.

The outer side of the plate-8 is cut away to form a pair of spaced openings 13, 13 and the outer side of the plate 9 is cut away to form a pair of spaced openings 13a, 13b, which oppose respectively the openings 13 13.

Mounted on the pintle 11, betweenthe barrels 10a, is a coiled spring 14', having one end thereof, indicated at 15, extended through the opening 13EL and engaging the lower face of the plate 9. The other end 16 of the spring 14 extends through the opening 13 and engages the outer face of the plate 8.

'Mountedon the pintle 11 between the barrels 10b, is a coiled spring 14vhaving one end thereof, as indicated at '15', extended through the opening 13b and engaging the lower face of the plate 9. `The other end 16 of the spring 14 extends through the opening 13 and engages'the outer face of the plate 8. The plate 9 is arranged below the plate 8 and owing to thearrangement 0f the springs 1 4, 14', vthe normal tendency thereof is to maintain the plates 8 and 9 in abutting` engagement. The plate 8, at one corner thereof, is formed with an outwardly extended ear 8 to facilitate the shifting of the plate 8 from superposed position with respect tothe plate 9.

The plate `8 is lformed with a pair of spaced openings 17 into which is adapted to extend a pair ofpspaced lugs 18, which project ffrom the upper face of the plate 9. Thelugs 18 are providedfor detachably connecting the menu card 6 to the plate 9, the

latter being suitably apertured for the passage of the lugs 18. When the menu card 6 is connected by the lugs 18 to the plate 9, the plate 8 is then shifted to a position in superposed relation with respect to the plate 9, and when the plate 8 has been so shifted, the lugs 18 extend into the opening 17 whereby `the card 6 is detachably coupled to the plates 8, I9 and maintained in such position through the action of the springs 14 and 14 retaining the plate 8 in superposed relation with respect to the plate 9.

Carried by the fold 2, is a plurality of clamping devices for the purpose of securing' a holding bar 19 in position against a pad of order slips 29, and each of said clamping devices consists of a hollow tubular post 21.provided with internal threads and further provided with a head 22 at its inner end which is interposed between the opposed faces of the sections 3 and 4. rEhe posts 21 "extend through the pad 20, and also through the bar 19, and threadably engaging with the posts 21 is a securing member consisting of a threaded shank 23, and a head 24, the Vlatter 'frame27 is formed with bendable flanges 29,

which extend through the section 4 and are bent to rthe position shown inV Figure 6. Positioned against the inner face of the secn tion 4, is a rigid backing for the mirror 28.

'The backing`30 is secured against the inner vface of the section 4 by the bent portions of the flanges 29.

`From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, a combination holder is set up whereby the menu card is positioned so that one can employ his left hand topshift the card and use his right hand to remove the instrument 26, for the purpose of writing an order on one of the slips of the pad, andthe arrangement of the clamping or securing elements for the menu card, pad and writinginstrument is such that the menu card can be conveniently removed an'd a new one substis tuted, that if the pad has become exhausted the stub end can be removed and a new pad substituted, that when it is desired a new writing instrument can also be substituted. By the arrangement shown and described, a holder is set up which yenables a guest to conveniently write his order after the menu card has been considered, and owing to the manner in which the menu card is set up, it is positioned so that it can be conveniently examined or perused. Although the preferred construction is as described and illustrated, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details ot construction can be had Without 'departing from-the spirit of the invention as claimed.

`What I claim is zl. A holder for the purpose set forth comprising a body portion :tormed ot a pair of folds, a pair of spaced apertured brackets secured to the upper end of the inner face ot one of said folds, a pair of clamping plates normally arranged in superposed relation and having their outer sides provided with aligning barrels, a pair of pintles mounted in said barrels, each of said pintles mounted in one of said brackets, one ot said plates provided with openings, the other of said plates provided With a pair of lugs for connecting an article therewith, a pair of springs carried by said pintles and bearing against said plates for maintaining them in superpose'd relation and With the lugs of one plate extending through the openings of the other plate.

2. A holder comprising a body portion formed of a pair of folds, a pair of apertured spaced brackets secured to one of said folds and projecting from the inner face thereof, a pair of clamping plates arranged bet-Ween said brackets and carrying means engaging in said brackets for hinging the plates together, a pair of springs carried by said means and engaging the lates for maintaining them in superpose Y relation, one of said plates provided with lugs and the other with openings for the reception of the lugs and providing means for detachably connecting an article to the plates when these latter are in superposed relation.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

ALVA O. HEARNE. 

